Electrical connection



Sept. 30, 1941. A. KEEFE 2,257,608

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION Filed Oct. 29, 1937 4 NVENTOR I: 473 Y Arthur Keefe h v A Y W JE Patented Sept. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' Arthur Keefe, Akron, Ohio Application October 29, 1937,' SerialrN'o. 171,655

Claims.

In the pastrwall sockets have been largely of porcelain and metal for which an aperture that accurately conformed to their varying contour and proportionslhad to be individually provided, often at the expenditure of considerable time and labor. It has been common practice to mount a plurality of outlet sockets o n a single house or shop line 4that was provided with a single fuse. In the event of a short circuit from any of the socketsin such a system, the entire circuit was broke'nand the outlets were useless until the fuse was replaced, frequently by match or candle light. The'wires of the house lline are frequently disposed in inaccessible places, as back of or between walls and the like. These walls are sometimes inflammable, as when made of` Wood and similar materials and great losses have been caused by arcing or overheating oi the Wires of the line in suchinaccessible places, bcfore the line fuse melted, or where the4 line fuse failed to function properly.

The present invention is directed toward the avoidance of these limitations and toward the improvement of electrical connection constructions and the introduction of new and advantageous functions.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved forms of electrical connections that `embody improved and simplied structures that have new functional advantages.

Another object is to provide electrical connections `that comprise simple moldings and stampings that are inexpensively made and simply assembled. Y

Another object is to provide electrical connec-` tions' comprising plug receptacles having deformtions that protect and` permit thecontinued `services of the house line for light and for the use of other appliances,` where a short circuit .occurs in s'ome individual appliance or .fixture or in its connecting "circuit,

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Another object is'to provide an electrical -connection that reduces the fire hazard of the installation by containing a current interrupting device that prevents the dangerous heating of wires in inaccessible locations Where inflammable material might be ignited, as back o-f -a Wall of Wood construction, and the like. s

Another object is to provide an electrical connection that may be used safely in or near highly combustible material, such as illuminating gas, highly combustible fluids, inflammable` vapors and the like.

Another object is to provide electrical connections that contain a replaceable fuse that is readily and simply accessible and that may be easily and inexpensively replaced.

A further object is to provide fuse' elements that comprise a plurality of individual fuses that may be successively placed in position to conduct the electricalcurrent of the line before replacement of the element is necessary.

With the above yand other objects in view that will be apparent to those familiar with the art to which .the present invention pertains from the following description, illustrative embodiments of the invention aredisclosed in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of an electrical connection assembly in. a suitable mounting;

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the appliance attach ing plug that forms a part of the connection assembly that is kshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is'a perspective of the intermediate member in the connection assembly that is shown in Fig. 1; i

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the plug receptacle that is shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 vis a longitudinal section of a modified connection assembly;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view from the line 6--6 of Fig. 5 of the tongue and socket registration union of the assembly; o

Fig. 'l is a longitudinal section taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 8 ofan intermediate rmember fuse plug; v

Fig. 8 isa transverse section taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; i

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the multiple fuse unit of radially extending individual fuse arms that preferably forms a part of the socket that is ,shown in Figs. Tand 8;

Fig. l0 is an `end elevation of a fuse carrying `intermediate member that is partly broken away ytolelxpose the circular multiple fuse wire that :preferably .forms apart thereof;

l Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section taken along the line II-II of Fig. 10 and' with parts broken away; and

Fig, 12 is a fragmentary section taken along the line I2-I2 of Fig. 10.

In the accompanying drawing, the plug receptacle I, that is shown in Figs. 1 and 4, is preferably of resilient and deformable material, lsuch as rubber or the like, and may be of substantially any desired external form to fit a particular aperture. The example shown is substantially cylindrical. The plug receptacle I may, or may not, as desired, be provided on its exterior with retaining means, such as the plurality of external projections 2, that engage portions of the aperture wall in which the receptacle is mounted with zones of increased contact pressure to more securely fix the plug receptacle in its aperture. The flange 3 indicates the proper depth that the plug receptacle should be inserted in its aperture. The flange 3 may flare to a desired degree to overlie the aperture mouth and to conceal any roughness about the mouth of the aperture. The flange 3 and the projections 2 may be omitted, if desired, without material alteration in the function of the plug receptacle. The plug receptacle I may, if desired, have an inclined lead edge 4, that assists in its deflection past irregularities in the wall of its aperture during its installation.

An apertured wall is illustrated as a suitable mounting for the plug receptacle I, and comprises the lath 5, the plaster 6, and the base board 1, in which base board the groove 8 is shown to partly countersink the flange 3. The plug receptacle may be mounted in a suitable aperture in any other desired mounting to which it is similarly adapted.

The axially extending slots 3 in the receptacle I, house the separate concealed blade contacts ID, that are commonly of spring brass and are mounted therein in a suitable manner, as by being firmly secured to the insulating contact supporting Washer I I. The wires I2, of the house line, engage the concealed blade contacts Ill electrically, as by the screws I3 that thread into the washer II and secure both the contacts I and the wires I2 thereto. A short circuit of the line back of the mounting is preferably guarded against, as by the insulating washer I4, that overlies the heads of the screws I3 and is apertured centrally for the accommodation of the wires I2. Suitable means is provided for mounting the contact supporting washer II and the insulating washer I4 in the plug receptacle I, as by their being removably positioned in the orcumferentially extending washer grooves I5 and I6, respectively, in the radially inner wall of the plug receptacle I. It will be noted that the assembly and installation of the plug receptacle is simple and easy.

The intermediate member I1, in Figs. 1 and 3, is preferably of stiff material, such as stiff rubber, polymerized resins, or the like, in which the intermediate member exposed blade contacts I8, that releasably contact the receptacle blade contacts I0, are rigidly mounted, as by being molded therein.

Fuses, that preferably are of less amperage than the line fuse, are removably housed in suitable apertures in the intermediate member I1. The illustrative safety fuses shown, have the fuse wire I9 connected to the metal fuse tips 20, that are spaced from each other by the section of glass tube 2|. The glass tube 2l insulates the ash of the fuse wire where a short circuit occurs in the fuse circuit.

The intermediate member I1, that is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, isl removably secured to the appliance attaching plug 22, in suitable manner, as by the engagement of the intermediate member threads 23 with the appliance attaching plug threads 24, that are preferably segmental to forin a bayonet joint for ease of engagement and separation. The intermediate blade contacts I8 are preferably exposed and shouldered at 25, or otherwise adapted to provide fuse contacts.

The appliance attaching plug 22 comprises a shell of stiff insulation material in which the Wires 26 of the appliance cord are separately secured, as by the screws 21, that thread into the wire supporting insulating washer 28. The washerv 2B is preferably, tho not necessarily, removably positioned within the shell of the appliance attaching plug 22. Suitable means, such as the cushion rubber washer 28, is provided for maintaining the fuse that is 'disposed between the screws 21 and the exposed shoulder 25 of the intermediate blade contacts I8, in compressed engagement with each other to provide permanent electrical contact therebetween. Either or both fuses may be replaced with any other suit able fuse or conducting means, where such construction is desired, as is common in the industry. The intermediate blade contacts I3 are preferably indented or apertured adjacent their free ends in conventional style as shown for the apertured exposed contact 49 in Fig. 5.

The form of electrical connection assembly that is shown in Fig. 5, comprises the plug receptacle 30, that is illustrated as being of cylindrical form altho it may be of other desired form to t a particular mounting, if desired. It may be of any suitable insulating material and is channelled o-n its cuter surface to provide retaining slots for the spring metal fluted strips 3I. The spring strips 3| are preferably discontinuous and yieldingly engage the inner walls of the aperture in which the plug receptacle may be mounted. The plug receptacle is also preferably, tho not necessarily, provided with the inclined lead edge 32 and the insertion arresting flange 33.

The washer receiving groove 34 in the plug receptacle 30, provides a seat for the preferably removable connection supporting washer 35. The washer 35 carries suitable connection and contact means, such as the screws 3B that are threaded therethru, so that they secure the wires 31 of the house line to the washer 35. The wire connection means, or screws 36, also contact one end of the fuses 38, as by extending thru the washer 35, as shown. The insulating guard washer 39, that is removably seated in the washer groove 40, and is apertured centrally for the accommodation of the wires 31 of the house line, covers the heads of the screws 36 from any possible shorting contact back of the mounting.

The plug receptacle liner 4I, that is shown as being cylindrical in vform and as providing a lining for the plug receptacle 30, is of hard noninflammable material, such as metal, glass, hard rubber, or the like, and may be slipped into the plug receptacle 3Il or may be vulcanized thereto, as desired. The liner 4I is preferred to provide a radially inner wall of the plug receptacle 30 of a constant diameter and to provide a favorable friction surface against which the intermediate member 42 may be inserted. The liner 4I may be omitted, however, if desired, without alteration in the electrical functions of the device.

Suitable means is provided for placing the 4intermediate member 42 in proper registration with the plug receptacle 30, such as the liner tongue 43, that extends radially outwardly therefrom and provides a locating depression for the admission of the intermediate tongue 44, that extends axially of the metal reenforcement 45 in the intermediate member 42. The reenforcement 45 is preferably embedded Within the intermediate member 42 that is adapted for being removably inserted in the plug receptacle 30 and serves to stiifen and maintain circular, the exposed end of the intermediate member 42.

The intermediate member 42 is preferably apertured at its inner end for the reception of suitable fuses 38 and at its other end for the accommodation of the intermediate member concealed blade contacts 46. The intermediate member blade contacts 46 preferably terminate at their fuse engaging end in the spring tips 41, vthat yieldingly press the fuses 38 into engagement with the ends of the line contact or screws 36. The spring tips 41 of the intermediate member blade contacts 46 may be supported in their engagement with the fuses 38 in any suitable manner, as by having a part, such as their ends opposite from the spring tips 41, embedded in the rubber of the intermediate member 42, or by the engagement of the curved portions of the spring tips 41 against a portion of the preferably resilient body portion of the intermediate memberr 42, or in other suitable manner, as desired.

The appliance attaching plug 48 is of substantially conventional type and comprises a shell of stii insulating materiaL to which the exposed plug blade contacts 49 and the wires of the appliance cord 5U are secured by the screws 5I. The washer 5 la conceals the screws 5 I. The plug blade contacts 49 are held stily in position and make close frictional engagement with the intermediate member blade contacts 46, that 'are vshown as being yieldingly backed by the resilience of the rubber body portion of the intermediate member 42.

'Ihe intermediate member I1 and the appliance attaching plug 22, that are shown in Fig. l, may be replaced, if desired, by the conventional appliance plug 48, that is shown in Fig. 5, where it is desired that the fuse be omitted, so that the plug receptacle l receives the conventional appliance plug 48 in substantially conventional manner.

The fuse carrying intermediate member fuse plug 52, that is shown in Fig. '7 of the drawing, may be used with any of the plug receptacles that are shown herein or with a conventional Wall socket -or plug receptacle, or the like. It is of stiif material, such as rubber, polymerized resins, or the like and is threaded on one end for engagement with the removable cap 53, that is apertured for the reception of the headed tube 54 thru which the wires 55 pass.

Suitable parts supporting means is anchored in the body of the plug 52, such as the screw 56,

that threads into the tube 51 that is molded in the body of the plug 52.

The screw 56 carries suitable current interrupting means, such as the fuse plate 58, that preferably comprises a plurality of radially eX- tending fusible arms 59 that are joined in a common center. The fuse plate 58 is clamped between the ends of the tube 51 and the sleeve 6D by the tightening of the screw 56. The sleeve 6l) carries the exposed blade contact 6I, as by their being welded together.

The innermost washer 62 is of hard insulating material thru which the long screw 62a, that secures one wire 55, is threaded and into which the other screw B2b, that secures the other wire of the circuit threads. The inner washer 62 is preferably spaced from the fuse plate 58 to accommodate metal that may separate from the fuse plate in the event of a short circuit and preferably has an upturned peripheral edge 63 that insulates the tips of the fuse plate arms 59 from that part of the blade conta-ct 64 that is bent around the fuse assembly and that is secured to the inner washer 62 by the short screw 62h.

The middle washer 65 is apertured for the sleeve 60 and is preferably apertured at 66 for providing an outlet for waste fuse metal and for visual access to the fuse plate arm 59 that contacts the end of the fuse contact screw 62a..

The outer washer 61 may or may not be used,

as desired, and, where used, is preferably countersunk at its center for the accommodation of the head of the screw 56 and is slotted so that the exposed blade -contacts 6l and 64 may extend therethru. The fuse contacting long screw 62a. may, if desired, be not in line with the exposed contact 6I, so that the outer washer 61 may also be apertured, not shown, in line with the aperture 66 in the middle washer 65, to provide visual access to the fuse plate arm 59 that is in circuit.

The circuit flow thru the long screw 62a, serving as a contact, is thru the fuse arm 59 to the center of the fuse plate 58 and thru the screw 56 and the sleeve 69 to the exposed blade contact 6I. In the event of a current overload, the particular arm 59 of the fuse plate 58 that is in engagement with the long screw 62a, melts and Vthe flow of current is interrupted. The screw 56 is then removed along with the washers 61 and 65, the fuse plate '58 is rotated to a point where another fuse arm 59 is in engagement with the end of the long screw 62a, and the washers 65 and 61 and the screw 56 are reassembled. The intermediate member fuse plug 52 is then again ready for use.

The fuse carrying intermediate member 68, that is shown in Figs. 10-12, inclusive, of the drawing, comprises a body portion of stiff rubber, or other suitable insulating material, in which supporting parts of the concealed blade contacts 69 and 10 are preferably molded. The concealed blade contact 69 is in electrica1 contact with the threaded screw base 1I, as by being welded thereto, to form one electrical connection for the intermediate member 68.

The concealed blade contact 10 terminates at its inner end in the fuse contact pin 12. Another fuse contact pin 13 is circumferentially spaced from the contact pin 12 and is mounted in electrical contact with the end of the radially extending arm 14 that forms a part of or is secured to, the screw receiving tube 15, and that are all disposed in the body of the intermediate member 68, as by being molded therein.

The tube 15 is threaded internally for the reception of the screw 16. The insulating washer 11 carries the circular section of fuse Wire 18 permanently mounted on its under side, as by having it partly embedded in a suitable groove in the washer. The insulation washer 11 is apertured at its center so that it fits snugly on the screw 16. The fuse wire 18 bridges the gap bewasher 11 rotated a sufiicient distance to intro- The tips of the pins 12 and 13 are prefer' duce a fresh length of fuse wire bridging the' fuse contact pins 12 and 13, and the screw 1E again tightened.

The various structures that are herein described and illustrated are intended to be charf acterized by simplicity of manufacture, assembly, installation and function. The structures and assemblies are directed toward increasing the safety and convenience of electrical systems and facilitating the replacement of fuses and parts in cases of breakdown with decrease in the difficulties that are encountered in modern installations where the blowing of a house or shop fuse may result in considerable loss as well as discomfort.

It is to be understood that the particular embodiments of the invention that are disclosed and described herein and the constructions of the various parts of the connection members that are shown and described herein and their interrelations, are presented for purposes of illustration and explanation and that various changes in the particular designing and construction of the parts described and illustrated herein and in their particular mode of assembly g may be made without departing from the invention as dened in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An electrical connection, comprising in combination, an intermediate member comprising a lresilient body portion, a concealed spring blade contact disposed in said intermediate member and terminating at one end in a spring tipcushioned by the resilience of said body portion, and a fuse removably engaging said blade contact spring tip in resilient end-wise compression.

2. A connection for conducting electrical energy, comprising in combination, a substantially deformable plug receptacle that is adapted to yieldingly grip the wall of an aperture in which it is mounted, a plug, and means interposed between said plug and said plug receptacle and yieldingly supported by the resilience of its mounting for making electrical connection therebetween.

3. An electrical connection, comprising in combination, a plug receptacle having a body wall of substantially resilient material adapted to grip the wall of an aperture in which the receptacle may be mounted, a groove in said body wall, a contact in said plug receptacle resting substantially against a portion of said resilient body wall, contact supporting means removably disposed in said groove in said body wall.

4. An electrical connection, comprising in combination, a plug receptacle of resilient material adapted to grip the wall of an aperture in which the receptacle may be mounted, an intermediate member adapted for being removably connected with said plug receptacle, a fuse in said intermediate member, a plug, and receptacle contact means against which said receptacle material resiliently presses for removably connecting said plug and said intermediate member to said receptacle.

5. An electrical connection, comprising in combination, a plug receptacle having a resilient portion capable of gripping the wall of an aperture in which it is mounted.

8. An electrical connection, comprising in combination, a plug receptacle, an intermediate member, an appliance attaching plug, an electrical connecting contact means7 and a resilient rubber insulating means applying yielding pressure to said electrical connecting contact means.

7. An electrical connection, comprising in combination, a fuse plug, a rotatable washer part of said fuse plug, a fuse Wire mounted on said washer, and washer securing means whereby portions less than the whole length of said fuse wire may be successively used in the conducting of electrical current in said fuse plug.

8. An electrical connection, comprising in combination, a resilient rubber intermediate member adapted to be interposed between a plug and a plug receptacle, and a contact disposed in said intermediate member and yieldingly supported in its frictional contacting engagement with any other contact against which it may be disposed by the resilience of the cushioning rubber of which the intermediate member is made.

9. An electrical connection, comprising in combination, a resilient intermediate member disposed between a plug and a plug receptacle, a contact part of said plug, a blade contact in said intermediate member and resiliently supported laterally thereby for making positive lateral engagement with said plug contact, a fuse disposed in said intermediate member and having one terminal engaging said contact, and wire connecting means supported by said plug receptacle and engaging the other terminal of said fuse.

10. An electrical connection, comprising in combination, a substantially hollow shell of substantially electrically non-conducting material, a plurality of line wires leading into said shell, a line wire attaching means disposed inwardly of said shell and providing a fuse conta-ct therein, a fuse plate removably disposed inwardly of said shell, a fusible arm forming a part of said fuse plate and adapted for making electrical contact with said line wire attaching means, a blade contact projecting from said shell and in electrical contact with said fuse plate, and blade contact securing means adapted for attaching said blade contact to said shell and capable of being removed from said connection whereby said fuse plate and said line wire attaching means may be drawn substantially out of said shell for the purpose of replacing said fuse plate.

ARTHUR KEEFE.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION. Patent No. 42,257.16Q8. 'September 50, 19141.

y ARTHUR KEEFE.

It ishereby certified that error appears in the printed specifi cation ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page LL, second column, line l5, claim 5, after the word "mounted" and before the period insert a concealed contact disposed inwardly thereof, an intermediate member from which an exposed contact extends to engage said concealed contact, a fuse disposed in said intermediate member, a plug engaging said intermediate member, wire securing means disposed in said plug, and a cushion means in said plug for maintaining said fuse in electrical engagement with said wire securing means; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 50th day of December, A. D. 1914.1.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

